Ask Dr. Elliott: What to Know About Post-Weight Loss Surgery

Undergoing weight loss surgery can be a dramatic, life-changing event for anyone who needs help to reach a stable, healthy bodyweight. But for many patients, after their weight loss surgery their work is not quite finished. It’s common for people who have had a major weight fluctuation to experience stretched, sagging skin in areas all over the body including the abdomen, arms, thighs, and more. This excess skin can negatively affect your appearance and damper the enjoyment of your new trimmer, healthier physique. Thankfully, post-weight loss surgery can help by utilizing body contouring procedures like a tummy tuck or thigh lift to tighten your physique and shed that unpleasant extra skin. Below, I answered a few common questions to help explain how post-weight loss surgery can help put the finishing touches on your new appearance.

Question #1: Is post-weight loss surgery always necessary after significant weight loss or can my skin recover on its own?

It is extremely unlikely that loose skin left after significant weight loss will tighten on its own. Post-weight loss surgery is a cosmetic procedure, so it is by no means mandatory, but it can be extremely helpful after a great deal of weight loss has occurred. Choosing whether or not to undergo post-weight loss surgery is merely a matter of personal aesthetic preference.

Question #2: Is it safe to have multiple post-weight loss procedures performed at once?

Some of my patients love having the opportunity to combine multiple procedures into one post-weight loss surgery. This can help reduce recovery time and costs, while also providing more comprehensive body contouring results. However, not everyone is necessarily healthy enough to combine multiple procedures, and you should speak with your board-certified plastic surgeon about this possibility during your consultation.

Question #3: What makes someone a good candidate for post-weight loss surgery?

In addition to having loose, sagging skin following significant weight loss, good candidates for post-weight loss surgery should be at their healthy goal weight before undergoing any procedures. Good candidates should be in good mental and physical health and maintain positive, but realistic expectations for their procedure and recovery.

I hope you found this informative. Weight loss surgery can be an amazing way to earn a new lease on life for many patients. Post-weight loss surgery can help ensure that you get the most out of your experience and enjoy your new body contour as much as possible. For more information on post-weight loss surgery or if you would like to schedule a plastic surgery consultation today, please contact me, Dr. Frank Elliott. You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for more cosmetic surgery tips, photos, videos, and more.